I am hearing of various museum renovations in Lisbon that may have started in 2025 and so will continue into 2026. I will be in Lisbon Jan 17-21 and museums, churches, and historic sites are my thing.

The National Museum of Contemporary Art, for instance appears to be close? Seems to have only virtual tours?

Does anyone know of museums that are definitely CLOSED? trying to research it now with the aid of a DK guide to Lisbon and am not sure.

Thanks so much. This is my first trip to Lisbon and don't want to waste any precious time.

Ellen Cutler

Museums that are closed in Lisbon for renovations.

Museu Nacional do Azulejo ( Time Museum)
https://www.museunacionaldoazulejo.pt/en

Museu Nacional da Arqueologia (Arqueology Museum)
https://museunacionalarqueologia.gov.pt/

Museu Nacional do Traje ( Traditional clothing museum)
https://www.facebook.com/MuseuNacionaldoTraje/

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga ( Old Art museum)
Homepage

Museu Nacional de Teatro e Dança ( Theater and dance museum)
https://www.museusemonumentos.pt/en/...tro-e-da-danca

Torre de Belém ( Belém tower - not a museum but a monument)
https://www.museusemonumentos.pt/en/...torre-de-belem

Picadeiro Real ( Royal Riding)
https://www.museusemonumentos.pt/en/...picadeiro-real

Thanks. It seems like an awful lot of important institutions closed all at once! Rough on tourists... Ellen

I use guide books for a lot of things, but never for closures -- I go to the museum or site webpages for that. Guide books are unlikely to be current enough to capture all changes to opening hours.

We will be visiting Lisbon early October and hope all will be completed by then. If anyone on this forum knows more detailed info on the above-listed museums, would much appreciate your sharing in coming months -- thank you!

Edit
The first one should read ( Tile museum).
Most are scheduled to reopen for the summer season but renovation schedules can be flexible.

The museum's I listed are managed by the government ministry of culture in Lisbon but there are private museums that may also be closed.

The Gulbenkian museum in Lisbon is managed by a foundation and is also closed for renovations.
https://gulbenkian.pt/noticias/museu...equalificacao/

There are museums in other locations throughout Portugal closed for renovations.

Lamego
https://museudelamego.gov.pt/visita/

Beja
https://www.museusemonumentos.pt/en/...ainha-d-leonor

A new museum is scheduled to open in Porto in 2026
https://museudasconvergencias.pt/en

Sorry that so many great museums will be closed during your visit - you'll just have to return when renovations are complete!
Museums we enjoyed that should be open during your visit include the Maritime museum / Museu de Marinha and the National Coach Museum, the Carmo Archeologic museum (is this different than the National Museum of Archeology? not sure) and the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.